High School Football

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For Derrick Henry, Friday night will go down as the night he made a chapter of the history books his own.

The Yulee senior climbed to second place on the state’s all-time rushing list, tied a career high with six touchdowns, and broke the single-game record for rushing yardage in the state of Florida with 502 yards, powering the host Hornets (3-1) to a 45-28 victory on homecoming night over visiting Jackson (2-2).

From the start, Henry piled on yards at a staggering clip. He gained 190 yards in the first quarter, and had 339 yards by halftime. By the end of the third quarter, he had surpassed the previous Northeast Florida single-game record of 429 yards, set in 2003 by Maurice Wells of Sandalwood.

But as Jackson moved the ball with success, winding down the clock, Henry was running out of time to approach the state mark of 501, set by Shawn Smith of Tampa Bay Tech in 1985. With 7:49 to play in the fourth quarter, Henry took over at the Jackson 24 with a total of 478 yards. He needed 24 yards. He got them all, scoring his sixth touchdown by plowing over the line from the 1 with 6:31 to go.

Humble in victory, Henry gave plenty of credit for his showing to his team.

“I’m just very thankful, very appreciative,” Henry said. “I couldn’t have done it without all my teammates and coaches.”

Henry’s latest feats also took his career total above the 8,804 yards of Emmitt Smith, the former Escambia High School running back who went on to become the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. Henry also just one behind the national record of 39 consecutive 100-yard games, set last year by Rushel Shell of Hopewell Senior High School in Pennsylvania.

“We’ve had these nights — not necessarily 500-yard nights — where you can tell early on, he’s got it,” Yulee coach Bobby Ramsay said. “Feed it to him.”

Henry wasted no time in eclipsing Smith’s mark. On Yulee’s third play from scrimmage, Henry swept left behind the blocking of left tackle Nick Ortiz ran up the sideline on a 70-yard sprint for a touchdown.

“Our offensive line did a great job, the coaches called the right plays, and I just had to make it happen,” Henry said.

Yulee threatened to break clear in a short spell at the end of the first quarter. Garrett Henderson downed Jackson punter Keith Brown in his end zone for a safety, and Yulee struck with a pair of Henry touchdowns followed by successful onside kicks. In a flash, the Hornets were ahead 23-6.

“There was great work by the offensive line and our fullback, Jason Ray, to establish control,” Ramsay said.

Strong-armed Jackson quarterback Tristan Payton, whose long-range throws kept the Hornets off balance, helped to keep the Tigers in the game, leading a pair of long drives that were finished off by running back Tyrone Woods in the first half. But Yulee’s defense, led by nine tackles from inside linebacker Zane Cruz, held the Tigers’ running game under control. Sophomore Payton was also hampered by four drops from his receivers.

The only player still ahead of Henry on the state career list is Kelvin Taylor of Glades Day School. The son of former Jaguars great Fred Taylor has more than 10,000 yards in five years. Glades Day, ranked first in Class 2A, will travel to Yulee next Friday in a nationally televised clash of record-setting rushers.

It’s a meeting that Ramsay is eagerly awaiting.

“Kelvin Taylor’s a really special player, and we know that,” he said. “It’s gonna be good, and I’m sure people will be excited to see him.”